Whose Invention Is Dynamite?

Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel invented dynamite in 1867 by discovering that nitroglycerin, a highly unstable liquid explosive, became much safer to handle when absorbed by diatomaceous earth (kieselguhr). He patented the invention and established factories across Europe, building a massive fortune from the construction, mining, and demolition industries. When a French newspaper mistakenly published Nobel's obituary in 1888, calling him "the merchant of death," he was reportedly so disturbed by this legacy that he rewrote his will to establish the Nobel Prizes. He left 94% of his fortune — about 31 million Swedish kronor (equivalent to roughly $265 million today) — to fund annual prizes in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace.